KHMER REPUBLIC: GOVERNMENT TROOPS GO ON THE OFFENSIVE TO TRY TO CLEAR INSURGENT ROCKET BASES ROUND THE CAPITAL

Record ID: 640492

  • Title: KHMER REPUBLIC: GOVERNMENT TROOPS GO ON THE OFFENSIVE TO TRY TO CLEAR INSURGENT ROCKET BASES ROUND THE CAPITAL
  • Date: 19th January 1974
  • Summary: 1. LV Armoured personnel carriers 0.03 2. SV APC advances with troops following 0.16 3. GV Helicopter flys over 0.24 4. GV APC firing into trees 0.30 5. SV APC firing and advancing 0.37 6. GV Pan helicopter flys over village 0.43 7. GV APCs firing 0.48 8. LV Zoom in smoke of explosion with enemy fire 1.00 9. LV Rocket explosion among APCs and APCs move back (2 shots) 1.04 10. SV Helicopter flys overhead 1.18 11. GV APC in foreground with shell smoke rising above forest 1.26 Initials SC/1750 SC/1826 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 1974 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PHNOM PENH, KHMER REPUBLIC
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJYJXLSX95WVNSX9FZ1SKIK79
  • Story Text: Government forces in the Khmer Republic are engaged in a large scale counter attack to try to clear insurgents from their rocket firing positions around the capital, Phnom Penh.

    President Lon Nol's army has committed up to 5,000 of its best troops to the operation.

    The insurgents forces have been shelling the centre of the capital and nearby Pochengtong Airport with Soviet made rockets since late December.

    The rockets have been exploding almost daily and more than 100 people have been killed or injured.

    Pamphlets from the insurgents have appeared in the city warning residents to prepare for barrage of 1,000 rounds spread over 90 days.

    On Thursday (January 17) Government troops attacked Sam Rong village 2 kms west of the airport terminal building. The village has been occupied since January 5th this year by the communist led troops of Prince Sihanouk and the Phnom Penh military command suspect rockets are being fired from there.

    The Government troops were supported by armoured personnel carriers and by "gunship" helicopters. They were beaten back short of their goal after encountering heavy artillery and rocket fire. But the fighting goes on.

    Observers believe the success or failure of the Government drive to ??? but the insurgents threatening the international airport and the capital could determine the out come of the war.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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